In an open letter against Vladimir Putin’s regime, 40 Nobel laureates called on world leaders to increase support for Ukraine in its resistance to the Russian invasion, protect political prisoners in Russia, and not recognise Putin as the duly elected president of Russia, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
“The full-scale aggression against Ukraine and the murder of Alexei Navalny illustrate the escalation of the threat to a new level, as the Putin regime no longer recognises any limits to its violations of human rights and international norms. He has transformed Russia into a highly militarised police state armed with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, which threatens the existence of the world,”
– the letter reads.
The scientists also noted that Navalny and other Russian opposition figures had warned of these dangers, echoing the legacy of his great predecessor and 1975 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Academician Andrei Sakharov.
“We, the scientists of the world, call on political leaders to stand with all their might for peace, progress and human rights… We call on world leaders and all people of goodwill to get rid of any illusions about Mr Putin and his criminal regime. History teaches us that to appease an aggressor is to encourage further crimes against humanity. No temporary benefits can justify this. We are determined not to repeat Munich 1938!”
– the scientists said.
Five requirements for world leaders
- Dramatically increase aid to Ukraine. Ukraine must win, not just “not lose”. Timely assistance will reduce human losses and help drive the aggressor from Ukrainian soil. Putin’s defeat in his act of military aggression will be seen as a moral victory for millions of Russians, which will boost their hopes for a democratic future and mobilise their anti-war movement.
- Protect human rights and support the democratic opposition in Russia. The international community must unite to protect the political prisoners currently being tortured in Russia. The lives of opposition leaders Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Lilia Chanysheva and many others are under threat.
- Strengthen support for Russian citizens who face the risk of reprisals for their democratic and anti-war political beliefs and are in need of asylum.
- Support Russian democratic anti-Putin organisations, including support for independent Russian media, whose role in regime change is critical.
- Delegitimise Putin’s illegal power in Russia. Despite its propaganda, the Putin regime is desperate for recognition from the international community. A refusal to recognise Putin’s re-election by world leaders would send a powerful message that the world can no longer consider him a “partner”.
Who signed the letter
- Svetlana Aleksievich, 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature winner
- Harvey J. Alter, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Thomas R. Czech, 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Elias James Corey, winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2003
- Sheldon Lee Glashow, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1979
- Carol W. Greider, 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Roald Hoffmann, winner of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Louis J. Ignarro, 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Elfrieda Jelinek, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Takaaki Kajita, Nobel Prize in Physics 2015
- Roger Kornberg, 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
- Ferenc Krausch, Nobel Prize in Physics, 2023
- Brian K. Kobilka, 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Roderick McKinnon, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2003
- Barry J. Marshall, 2005 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- John S. Mather, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics
- Michel Major, 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics
- May-Britt Moser, 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Edward Ingjald Moser, 2014 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Hertha Müller, 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Paul Nurse, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- James Peebles, 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics
- William D. Phillips, 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics
- H. David Politzer, 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics
- Charles M. Rice, 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Sir Richard J. Roberts, 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Bert Sackmann, 1991 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Randy W. Sheckman, 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Gregg L. Semenza, 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Vernon Smith, 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics
- Wole Soyinka, Nobel Prize in Literature, 1986
- Gerardus ‘t Hoft, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1999
- Jack W. Shostak, 2009 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Drew Weissman, 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Eric F. Wischaus, 1995 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Jodi Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1997
- Oleksandra Matviychuk, Director of the Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel Peace Prize 2022
- International Memorial Association (International Historical, Educational, Human Rights and Charitable Society “Memorial” – ed.), Nobel Peace Prize 2022
In addition to the above-mentioned laureates, this petition was signed by 295 other scholars.